“Herees the dramatic part: that woman’s mother ended upmitting suicide in the old Gng family estate.”


    “Huh?”


    Caleb exined, “No one knows the details for sure. I heard bits from old neighbors. Apparently, one day, the maid showed up with the child and caused a scene for two days and nights. Then, shemitted suicide in the old Gng family estate.”


    Mason’s curiosity peaked. He was about to ask more when the bathroom door swung open and Le stepped out.


    Le, enveloped in steam, wore a ck silk slip that exuded a deadly allure.


    Not wanting Le to hear about the Gng family’s dirtyundry, Mason cut Caleb off mid-sentence.


    Ending the call with Caleb, Mason walked towards Le.


    Their eyes met, with a palpable tension in the air.


    “Do you want to shower?”


    “Do you know what it means when a woman urges a man to showerte at night?”


    It meant a special invitation.


    As Mason spoke, Le looked at him without saying a word.


    Mason headed into the bathroom, while Le returned to the bedroom.


    As soon as Le sat on the edge of the bed and before she could even dry her damp hair, her phone vibrated twice on the bedside table.


    ncing sideways, she saw a message on the screen: [No wonder you didn’t agree to coborate with me; turns out, you have bigger ambitions.]


    The number was still encrypted, and suddenly Omar’s image shed through Le’s mind.


    When Mason returned from the shower, Le tossed the phone to him.


    Taking it, he nced down, smirked, and raised an eyebrow. “He’s not much of a threat.”


    “Is it Omar?”


    Mason didn’t answer, extinguishing the phone screen and cing it on the bedside table. He nced at Le’s still-damp hair and asked, not addressing her earlier question, “Need my help?”


    Without directly answering his question, Le got up to blow-dry her hair. “No need, I can manage.”


    A momentter, the sound of the blow dryer filled the bathroom.


    While Le dried her hair, Mason went to the window and lit a cigarette. Halfway through, he picked up his phone and sent a message: [Wendell, Omar’s been too idletely.]


    Wendell replied instantly: [Got it.]


    [He’s not in good health, don’t overdo it.]


    As Mason sent the message, Le finished drying her hair.


    Listening to the movement, he closed his phone and pocketed it, striding to the doorway. The moment Le entered, he scooped her up.


    Before Le could protest, Mason carried her straight to the bed and gently pressed down on her.


    Mason’srge hand traced Le’s waist, causing her to instinctively arch her back. “We have to get up early tomorrow.”


    “Yeah, so let’s make this quick and not waste time.”


    Mason buried his head in her neckline, his voice husky and coaxing. “Le, how about we go public with our rtionship once we’re back in Neo City?”


    Le bit her lip tightly and remained silent.


    Undeterred, Mason continued, “Even if it’s just for six months, it’s still a proper rtionship, right?”


    Mason licked her neck and Le’s eyes red. “Mason, what’s in it for you if we go public?”


    “A good mood.”


    “I don’t want to.”


    “If we split up in half a year, I don’t want to make a big fuss about it.”


    Upon hearing this, Mason bit into her chest, and Le’s grip on his shoulder tightened, her voice too weak to argue back…


    At dawn, Le knelt on the bed, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. Mason leaned down to kiss her delicate back, still striving for onest push…


    The next day, their ne touched down in Neo City. Caleb was there to pick them up, and unexpectedly, Shirley was with him.


    Spotting Le, Shirley rushed forward and embraced her first.


    Caleb handed Mason a cigarette, his voice lowered. “Omar spilled the beans to your grandfather about you and Le. ”


    Taking the cigarette and lighting it, Mason replied casually, “How did you find out?”


    “Heard it from Wendell. He’s got security nted over at the old mansion. What’s your n? Your grandfather, he might target Le next.”


    “Would he dare?”


    “What wouldn’t he dare? To secure your alliance with the Powers Family, he can do anything…”


    Mason’s gaze swept over Le. “I’m nning to marry Le.”


    Caleb was speechless for a moment. Then he regained hisposure and asked, “So things have progressed this quickly between you two?”


    “Any objections?”


    “I’m just curious. You and her, so fast…” Caleb’s curiosity was piqued.


    Expecting Mason to divulge some kind of strategy, Caleb was taken aback when Mason drawled, “She hasn’t agreed yet.”


    “… Oh.”


    Seeing Caleb’s disdainful expression, Mason turned serious. “Give me half a month, I’ll have a marriage certificate to show you.”


    A few minutester, in the car, Caleb openly discussed some matters concerning The Ramirez Family.


    Le and Shirley sat in the back, pretending not to listen.


    After a while, Shirley couldn’t contain her curiosity and texted Le: [Rich families sure have a lot of drama.]


    Le: [Not our business.]


    Shirley: [I didn’t get a chance to ask earlier, but Caleb said you and Mason are together?]


    Le hesitated, knowing she couldn’t hide it. She decided to tell the truth: [For six months.]


    Shirley: [???]


    Le: [We agreed to only date for half a year.]


    Shirley looked at her in surprise, then lowered her head to text: [You guys… Great…]


    Seeing Shirley’s message, Le frowned.RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    This matter was hard to exin, and it seemed absurd even now. Back then, how did they… Certain indescribable scenes flooded Le’s mind, causing her cheeks to flush suddenly.


    The car arrived at Mason’s mansion, and the four of them got out.


    Mason and Caleb walked ahead, while Le and Shirley followed behind.


    Shirley still didn’t know they were living together. She muttered quietly to Le, “No wonder so many women are eager to take shortcuts. Marrying a man like Mason can lead to a lifetime of sess.”


    Le chuckled and reminded her, “Remember what Caleb said in the car just now.”


    Shirley halted in her tracks, recalling what he had mentioned about The Ramirez Family in the car. She shook her head vigorously, “Forget it, I prefer to earn my own keep. Some money, even if you manage to get it, doesn’t mean you’ll have the chance to spend it.”


    After dinner, Caleb had business at thepany and asked Shirley if she wanted to leave together.


    “I’ll go with Le.”


    Caleb nced down at her, a yful glint in his eyes. “Le isn’t going anywhere, she’s staying here.”


    Upon hearing Caleb’s statement, Shirley swiftly turned to look at Le, her eyes filled with disbelief.


    Le gripped her ss of water, meeting Shirley’s gaze. She wanted to exin but with Mason and Caleb present, she could only say, “I’ll exinter.”


    Shirley nodded reluctantly, “Alright.”


    After seeing Caleb and Shirley off, Le turned to Mason, “Was Caleb doing that on purpose?”


    “What?”


    “Did you instruct him?”


    “What would I instruct him to do? Clearly, the truth alwayses out.”


    “Childish.”


    Le had barely slept before dawn and although she caught up on sleep during the flight, she still felt tired and headed straight to bed to rest.


    Shirley’s text arrived with a string of question marks: [??????]


    Le: [It was urgent and I haven’t had the chance to tell you. Long story short, Mason and I are temporarily living together. I’m sorry for not telling you earlier.]


    Le didn’t want to tell Shirley the matters of The Ramirez Family, firstly, because she didn’t want to drag her into it and secondly, it was Mason’s family affair, and Le was an outsider.


    Shirley was quick to ept and showed no signs of annoyance at not being told sooner. She replied, [Le, I think you’ve gotten yourself into something.]


    Le: [At most half a year.]


    Shirley knew Le very well. Given her personality, she wouldn’t have done something like this unless she had feelings involved. Shirley asked, [Have you fallen for Mason?]


    Reading Shirley’s message, Le’s breath caught in her throat, avoiding a direct answer: [I didn’t sleep wellst night. Let me rest for a bit, and we can talkter.]


    Shirley: [Avoiding won’t solve any problems.]


    Le didn’t respond, cing her phone down and burrowing deeper under the covers.


    Avoidance indeed wouldn’t solve any problems. But sometimes, when there’s simply no solution to the problem, avoidance might just be the best option.


    Le slept particrly deeply this time.


    When she woke up, it was already dusk outside her window.


    Le gazed out at the scenery, lost in thought. The sunset’s lingering glow inexplicably calmed her mood.


    However, Le’s tranquility didn’tst long before the honking of a car outside shattered the atmosphere.


    Soon after, cries and usations filled the downstairs living room.


    “How can you do this to Omar, your own brother? How could you be so ruthless?”


    “Given his health condition, why can’t you just let him be?”


    “Mason, I’m begging you, please spare Omar and Jeff. I promise they won’t challenge you for The Ramirez Group.”